Approval rates
Bruce Landrum has a 57% approval rate on record since 2016. In the latest reporting period, his approval rate was 72%, which is 21 points above the Jacksonville office's latest-period average of 51%. These figures reflect historical trends rather than predictions for your individual hearing.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Landrum's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
Since 2016, your judge's approval rate has fluctuated. After a 54% approval rate in 2016, the rate reached a low of 48% in 2018 before trending upward to 72% in the latest period. This recent performance indicates a shift from his earlier decision-making patterns.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Landrum's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the Jacksonville hearing office
The Jacksonville hearing office is the most recent office on record for 17 judges. The office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 51%. You can find more information on the Jacksonville hearing office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Jacksonville
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. Within the Jacksonville hearing office, there are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. These judges show a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 33% to 78% on their records since 2016.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
Bruce Landrum's latest-period approval rate of 72% is 21 points higher than the Jacksonville office's latest-period average of 51%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate for Bruce Landrum has shifted over time. While his approval rate on record since 2016 is 57%, his latest-period rate has risen to 72%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the process random. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence to present the best possible case.
An approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of how Bruce Landrum will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your inability to work. An attorney can help you identify the evidence needed to meet the SSA's strict disability criteria.
